Cervical polyps may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
Usually, cervical polyps do not cause any symptoms, but they may cause bleeding or a puslike discharge.
Doctors can usually diagnose cervical polyps during a pelvic examination.
Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination.
About 2 to 5% of women have cervical polyps. They may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
Symptoms of Cervical Polyps
Most cervical polyps do not cause any symptoms. Some polyps bleed between menstrual periods or after intercourse. Rarely, polyps become infected, causing a puslike discharge from the vagina.
Polyps are usually reddish pink and less than 1/2 inch (about 1 centimeter) in diameter.
Diagnosis of Cervical Polyps
A pelvic examination
Treatment of Cervical Polyps
Removal of polyps
Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination in the doctor’s office. No anesthetic is needed. Bleeding rarely occurs after polyps are removed. If it does, a caustic substance, such as silver nitrate, is applied to the affected area with a swab to stop the bleeding.
Polyps are examined to confirm that they are not cancerous.
If symptoms (bleeding and a discharge) persist after polyps are removed, a sample of tissue from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) may be examined under a microscope (endometrial biopsy) to exclude endometrial cancer.
